The Postman Always Rings Twice is a classic novel by James M. Cain, first published in 1934. It tells the story of Frank Chambers, a drifter who stops at a roadside diner in California and meets the beautiful Cora Papadakis, the wife of the diner's owner, Nick Papadakis. Frank and Cora quickly fall in love and begin an affair, but their relationship is complicated by Nick's possessiveness and jealousy.
Frank and Cora hatch a plan to murder Nick and make it look like an accident. They lure him to a secluded spot and Frank hits him over the head with a tire iron. However, their plan goes awry when Nick survives the attack and is left with permanent brain damage. Frank and Cora are arrested and put on trial for attempted murder.
At the trial, Frank and Cora's lawyers argue that the couple acted in self-defense, but the jury finds them guilty. Cora is sentenced to life in prison, while Frank is sentenced to death. However, Frank's sentence is later commuted to life in prison.
The novel follows Frank and Cora's lives in prison and their attempts to get out. Frank is eventually released on parole, but Cora remains in prison. Frank and Cora reunite and attempt to start a new life together, but their past catches up with them and they are forced to flee.
The novel is a classic example of the hard-boiled crime genre, and its themes of love, betrayal, and justice have resonated with readers for decades. It is a gripping story of passion, crime, and the consequences of one's actions. The Postman Always Rings Twice is a timeless classic that will continue to captivate readers for years to come.